The Well-Trained Mind podcast

Latest Episodes:

A Conversation with a Secular Homeschooler (w/ Jean Lee) Sep 25, 2024

Show notes

Jean Lee’s website and Instagram
Midwest Homeshool Expo

Tell us about your funniest homeschool fail: https://www.speakpipe.com/MoreHomeschoolFails. We may feature it in an upcoming episode! Or email your homeschool fail to us at podcast@welltrainedmind.com.

(00:00) - Intro with Jean Lee
(01:52) - Faith-based vs. secular homeschool education
(12:02) - Other secular curricula
(19:33) - Break
(19:34) - Misunderstandings about secular/faith-based homeschoolers
(28:57) - Positive and negative reactions from faith-based homeschoolers
(39:24) - Outro

Should Homeschooling Be Regulated w/ Terrence Massey Sep 18, 2024

Show notes

Interview with WaPo Journalist Peter Jamison: NPR Fresh Air: Homeschooling is surging, but lax regulation can leave kids vulnerable to abuse, January 18th, 2024
The Report Susanna Mentioned: Report on Mathew Tirado
Learn about becoming a Guardian Ad Litem or Child Appointed Special Advocate in Your State

Tell us about your funniest homeschool fail! We may feature it in an upcoming episode! https://www.speakpipe.com/HomeschoolFails

(00:00) - Homeschool fails
(00:42) - Intro with Terrence Massey
(01:31) - What is Guardian ad Litem?
(02:26) - Homeschool and child welfare
(06:50) - Homeschooling, abuse, neglect, and the media
(13:08) - Discipline and abuse
(16:20) - Preserving families
(18:49) - Break
(18:50) - Educational neglect
(32:18) - Common sense regulations on homeschooling
(39:07) - We want the kids to be alright
(43:38) - Outro

Debunking Learning Myths Sep 11, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett debunk some of the most popular myths about how the brain works. If you take a sip of coffee every time Susanna says “pigeon-hole” throughout this episode, you will end up well caffeinated for the day!

We encourage you to look up these neuromyths on your own! Below are just a few articles (and a video) to start your research:

Show Notes:

Research: Persistence of Neuromyths in Educational Settings

Myth 1:

News Article: Right brain/left brain, right? Via Harvard Health Publishing
Full Research Study: An Evaluation of the Left-Brain vs. Right-Brain Hypothesis with Resting State Functional Connectivity Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Myth 2:

News Article: Debunking the Learning Style Neuromyth Via Forbes
Round-up of Research: Learning Styles as Myth via Yale

Myth 3:

News Article: Why There is No Such Thing as a Normal Brain via BBC
Research Article: The Myth of the Normal Brain: Embracing Diversity via The AMA Journal of Ethic
Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child’s Education by Susan Wise Bauer

Myth 4:

Article: Why a high IQ doesn’t mean you’re smart via Yale School of Management

Video: The Dark History of IQ Tests via TedEd

(00:00) - Debunking Learning Myths
(02:24) - Left-brained vs. right-brained
(05:01) - The power of figures of speech
(10:34) - Break
(10:35) - Matching instruction to learning style
(20:56) - Learning discorders
(26:35) - IQ scores
(33:53) - Outro

Teaching Controversial Topics Sep 04, 2024

Show notes

Guiding Principles:

Gretchen Ronnevik Quote We LOVE:

“When I taught classical writing to teens, there's an element to formal rhetoric called "refutation" where you address the arguments opposed to your thesis. In refutation, it's important to present the arguments of your opponents in a way that they would feel well represented, so that you can talk about where they are wrong in their argument, point by point, instead of resorting to ad hominem attacks, or misrepresentation. In classical rhetoric, ad hominem attacks, and twisting the words of your opponent where they would say "but that's not what I said, nor how I meant it," is actually the weakest way to refute their arguments. It shows that you don't have a good case against their issue, so you resort to theatrics and distractions instead. The reason that you want your opponents to agree with your representation of them is that you are seeking to win them over and persuade them. If they feel they have been misrepresented, they will never be persuaded, they will just continue to clarify again and again, until they realize you have no intention of actually hearing them.”

Gretchen’s website and Twitter/X Account

Politics

iCivics: Susanna’s recommendation for teaching civics and government to grammar/rhetoric stage students
The Righteous Mind by Jonathan Haidt: Susanna’s book recommendation for rhetoric students and adults

Economics

Uncle Eric Books: We mention using these books to explain the Libertarian or Free Market view of economics
Tuttle Twins: We mention this as an example of an economics/government program for kids that has a stated Libertarian slant
Older students should read the strongest arguments for each major economic theory and/or the source material, like The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith for Free Market Economics or The General Theory of Employment by John Maynard Keynes for Keynesian economics.
Resources for looking for rhetoric stage economics courses (let us know your comments about potential slants!):
- Great Courses (a lot of course options, check the syllabus to see if the course you’re interested in covers multiple economic theories)
- Edx (same as above)
- Khan Academy (they have a section about Keynesian economics and its critics)
- Crash Course (supplemental videos, potential Keynesian slant. They have a video about different Economics Schools of Thought)
- Well-Trained Mind Academy

Science

Biologos website: Susan mentions this website in the context of teaching theology and science.
Extremely American Podcast: Susan mentions this podcast when positing that there is a link between creationism and Christian Nationalist political ideas. This episode specifically tackles that link.

Corrections:

At 31:10 Susan mentions the "Institution of Creationism Research," it should be "Institute of Creation Research."

(00:00) - Season of Hot Takes Intro
(01:15) - Episode Intro
(01:28) - Teaching controversial topics
(03:31) - "I Don't Believe It, But I Must Teach It"
(04:31) - US Government & Politics | I Don't Believe It, But I Must Teach It
(07:21) - How to make space for terrifying questions
(13:50) - US Government & Politics | I Don't Believe It, But I Must Teach It
(22:25) - Economics | I Don't Believe It, But I Must Teach It
(30:26) - Break
(30:27) - Science | I Don't Believe It, But I Must Teach It
(39:28) - Reading | I Don't Believe It, But I Must Teach It
(44:44) - How to teach in a community with diverse values
(51:42) - Outro

Season 2 Finale: Questions & Answers Jun 19, 2024

Show notes

Here is a link to the standarized test that Susan recommended for students coming into classical education or homeschooling “late”:

California Achievement Test (CAT)

(00:00) - Intro
(00:55) - Reaction to WTM not being "classical enough"?
(06:21) - How to teach several ages at once?
(14:48) - Logistics of simultaneous at-home and in-school education
(21:02) - How to keep the energy up after graduating kids?
(28:16) - Confronting the decline of vocabulary
(31:52) - How to transition from Kindergarten to 1st grade?
(40:21) - How do handwriting and typing compare as learning tools?
(44:36) - When should a "gifted" child start focusing more on special interests?
(57:59) - Starting WTM "late"?
(01:03:34) - Adding AP classes to rhetoric?
(01:08:11) - Clarification from the burnout conversation
(01:10:39) - Wrapping up

Teaching Science the Classical Way w/ Courtney Ostaff Jun 12, 2024

Show notes

Here are all the curricula we talk about in the episode, so you can check them out for yourself:

Scientific Connections Through Inquiry

Online Courses/Well-Trained Mind Academy

Elemental Science (CK12)

Build Your Library

CK12 Foundation

Centripetal Science

(00:00) - Intro with Courtney Ostaff
(01:17) - The goals of a science curriculum
(24:17) - Searching for the perfect homeschool science curriculum
(28:11) - Elemental Science
(30:59) - Real Science Odyssey
(32:33) - Nancy Larson Science
(36:19) - Blossom and Root
(40:09) - Scientific Connections Through Inquiry
(47:04) - Online Courses/Well-Trained Mind Academy
(52:07) - Elemental Science (CK12)
(53:56) - Build Your Library
(55:22) - CK12 Foundation
(56:56) - Centripetal Science
(01:00:19) - Wrapping up

Homeschooling: The Outside Gaze Jun 05, 2024

Show notes

What About Socialization? Via Well-Trained Mind
VIDEO: Should I Join a Homeschool Co-Op?
Recommended Book: The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
Susan's Book: Rethinking School

(00:00) - Intro
(01:44) - How to prepare for the Outside Gaze
(03:27) - Peer pressure when homeschooling
(13:06) - What is your "Why"?
(22:05) - Homeschooling groups and co-ops
(32:18) - What about socialization?
(47:17) - Stay true to yourself
(48:43) - Outro

Teaching Math the Classical Way w/ Kate Snow May 29, 2024

Show notes

Check out Kate Snow's Website: https://kateshomeschoolmath.com/!

You can purchase Kate's curricula, Math with Confidence and Facts that Stick on our website, welltrainedmind.com.

(00:00) - Check out 4th Grade Math with Confidence!
(00:25) - Intro with Kate Snow
(02:28) - Kate's background
(06:30) - The problems with math curriculum
(12:23) - Ripping apart Saxon
(15:34) - Conceptual math vs procedural
(20:06) - Break
(20:07) - Math You See & manipulatives
(29:56) - Math with Confidence
(33:42) - Recommendations for teaching varying levels of math interest
(43:56) - Outro | Visit kateshomeschoolmath.com

RE-RELEASE: Classical Education for College-bound Students May 22, 2024

Show notes

Summary: In this episode, Susan Wise Bauer and Susanna Jarrett discuss how a classical education prepares students for university education and what adjustments may need to be made to ensure your student is a competitive applicant.

Show Notes:

Tests We Discuss:

Timestamps:

(00:00) - Intro
(01:05) - Starting off with a piece of advice
(04:13) - Preparing for college at the rhetoric stage
(10:31) - Seven tips (and a bonus!) for making the transition to college
(11:02) - Tip #1: Identify a range of potential colleges
(12:23) - Tip #2: Get credits on a transcript
(28:00) - Tip #3: Practice receiving instruction from multiple sources
(32:35) - Tip #4: Decide whether to take standardized tests
(39:30) - Tip #5: Look into achievement based testing
(45:36) - Tip #6: Get used to using a checklist and planner
(49:19) - Tip #7: Start collecting letters of recommendation
(51:35) - BONUS!: How to align classical courses to a high school transcript
(57:15) - Outro

Dealing with Burnout May 15, 2024

Show notes

ANNOUNCEMENT: We will record a Q&A episode at the end of this season. If you have questions for Susan or Susanna, send them to podcast@welltrainedmind.com.

(00:00) - Intro
(01:25) - Defining "burnout"
(06:02) - Burnout is normal
(15:19) - When to ask for help
(18:43) - Susan's story of burnout
(21:34) - Break
(21:37) - Dealing with burnout
(31:08) - What to do next
(47:52) - Outro